US3404609A - Group collator apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 8, '1968 E. A. HARTBAUER ETAL. 3,404,509

GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD l4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS flaw/00m AZ bZWrAMz/EE [nun-we! If, dim/EFT n s a d QQQ m 3 F w $3 Oct. 8, 1968 E. A. HARTBAUER ETAL. 3,404,609

GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Oct. 11, 1965 14 Sheets-Sheet L' INVENTORS fun/007w i. Myrna/wee Oct. 8, 1968 E. A. HARTBAUER ETAL GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Oct. 11, 1965 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 44 swam-#4, Mural/:2

[Ia FENCE i. a/m/ier Oct, 1968 E. A. HARTBAUER ETAL 3,404,609

GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed 001. 11, 1965 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 MibF 5 5 jzoa' INVENTOR5 fiuwaem A floeranuie [AM/FENCE E. Adi/-597- irraavir Oct. 8, 1968 Filed Oct. 11; 1965 E. A. HARTBAUER ETAL.

GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 Arron/E) Oct. 8, 1968 E. A. HARTBAUER ETAL GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Oct. 11, 1965 Get. 8, 1968 E. A. HARTBAUER ETAL 3,404,509

GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed on. 11, 1965 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Mib 'F'IG- l0 ma 4% w w I INVENTOR5 fluwaem/z Mir-540:2 lava-waif. /z/Mser Oct. 8, 1968 E. A. HARTBAUER ETAL GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD l4 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Oct. 11, 1965 Oct. 8, 1968 v E. A. HARTBAUER ETAL 3,404,609

GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD l4 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Oct. 11, 1965 Mia (6) w W a W w. W. m 7 x QU/ L a /v h m 1 I I I l III. N a w INVENTOR5 [14 54102711 A. finzranuiz Oct. 8, 1968 E. A. HARTBAUER ETAL. 3,404,609

GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Oct. 11, 1965 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 fill/[Ill llll 1 INVENTOR! Qua 027w 6. Hem-5405A ZHMFF/Vti i. /mvier Oct. 8, 1968 E. A. HARTBAUER ETAL GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Oct. 11, 1965 l4 Sheets-Sheet 14 irrae/ve'r United States Patent Office 3,404,609 Patented Oct. 8, 1968 GROUP COLLATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD Ellsworth A. Hartbauer, Concord, and Lawrence E.

Weinert, Antioch, Calif., assignors to Crown Zellerbach Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Filed Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,742 20 Claims. (CI. 93-93) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method of and apparatus for collating paper grocery the bags thereof collated into an end-for-end orientation, and of moving each angularly displaced group from the collating or turning station preparatory to bundling the groups. The apparatus includes group forming mechanism by means of which such continuous succession of bags discharged along a predetermined path are divided into groups, conveyor mechanism for moving each such group into the collating or turning station, first and second,

collating devices for respectively gripping and displacing alternate groups in opposite angular directions at the collating station, and transfer mechanism for advancing each angularly displaced group of bags from the collating station.

continuous succession from the bag-making machinery.

The bags at the time of such discharge are all oriented in the same direction and are moving along a predeter: mined path. Each bag is much thicker adjacent its bottom end than elsewhere therealong because of the overlapped layers of material required to close the bag bottom and also because the closed bottom of each bag is, in part,

folded against the side wall thereof in overlapping relation therewith. Consequently, as the bags are discharged from the bag-making machinery with their closed and folded bottoms all oriented in the same direction, any direct grouping or collection of bags results in a bundle of irregular dimensions unsuitable for storage and shipment.

Accordingly, it is customary for bags discharged from bag-making machinery to be collated or processed in a manner such that successive bags or groups thereof are alternately turned in opposite directions in order that certain of'the bags have the bottoms thereof facing in one direction and other of the bags have the bottoms thereof facing in the opposite direction. Thus, any bundle comprising a plurality of such collated bags is of relatively uniform dimensions and is therefore conveniently handled during banding of the bundle and subsequent shipment and storage thereof.

The present invention constitutes an improved method of and apparatus for collating articles such as paper grocery bags and the like, and involves processing or handling the articles in groups or hands with the result that the collating operation may be carried on at much slower speeds than where individual articles are collated -for example, in the ratio of l-to-SO where each such group comprises fifty bags. In carrying out the invention, the bags, which are delivered in a continuous stream at high speed from the bag-making machinery, are diverted from such stream and are collected in side-by-side relation with the bottoms thereof all oriented in the same direction. The collected bags are divided into groups or hands, each of which comprises a predetermined number of bags. The thusly formed groups are then collated, which operation includes transferring each group of bags into a turning station and then turning or rotating each transferred group through an angular distance of approximately successive groups being turned in opposite directions. The collated groups are then assembled for bundling, which assembly operation includes advancing each collated group from the terminal end of the turning or collating station and aligning all of the bags in any one group with each other and with the bags of other groups so that the top, bottom and longitudinal edges of all of the bags are essentially coextensive.

Objects and advantages of the invention, especially as concerns specific features and characteristics thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view depicting the overall operational sequence and general steps in the group-collating procedure;

FIGURE 2 is a broken side view in elevation of collating apparatus embodying the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a front view in elevation of the apparatus, the view being taken essentially from the left as viewed in FIGURE 2; 7

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, broken vertical sectional view of the group-forming section of the apparatus adjacent the discharge end of the bag-making machinery;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, broken vertical sectional view of the terminal end portion of the group-forming section;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, broken vertical sectional I view similar to that of FIGURE 4 but showing certain elements of the group-forming mechanism in an alternate position.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view generally similar to FIGURE 5, but showing in greater detail the groupcollating section of the apparatus;

FIGURE 10 is a vertical sectional view generally similar to that of FIGURE 9, but illustrating many of the components in section to show the structural characteristics thereof;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, transverse sectional View illustrating certain features of the group-collating section;

FIGURE 12 is an'enlarged, longitudinal sectional view showing the group-assembly section of the apparatus and particularly the drive linkages thereof;

FIGURE 13 is an essentially diagrammatic view of the structure shown in FIGURE 12, but with the linkages omitted and the paths of their lmotions being depicted instead;

FIGURE 14 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the alignment unit of the group assembly section;

FIGURE 15 is a horizontally oriented, longitudinal sectional view illustrating the assembly section of the apparatus;

FIGURE 16 is a vertical sectional view of the alignment portion of such section; and

FIGURE 17 is a chart or graph showing the timing interrelationships of various components and mechanisms of the apparatus.

General description Prior to describing the apparatus in detail, it may be convenient to consider a general overall description there- 3 of and in this connection, particular made in FIGURE 1. Y v 7 I The group-collating apparatus in its entirety may be thought of as comprising three sections identifiable as a group-forming or collection section 25, a group-collating section 26, and a group-assembly section 27. The articles being collated are advanced in order through such sections, and in the particular apparatus being considered the articles processed are self-opening, paper grocery bags denoted with the numeral 28. The bags 28 may be fabricated on standard machinery in a conventional bag-making line, which machinery in the usual instance includes a drum or cylinder from which bags 28 are discharged along a predetermined path in a substantially endless stream comprising a continuous succession of bags all oriented in the same direction (the closed bottom ends thereof leading in the subject apparatus).

The bags 28, it will be evident, are wholly conventional and therefore are open at their tops, have closed bottoms, and the bottoms are folded so that a portion thereof overlaps the side wall of the associaetd bag. Thus, each bag is substantially thicker adjacent the closed bottom end thereof and overlapped area than .at its top end and elsewhere, and this results in the requirement that the bags be collated or disposed alternately, either individually or in groups, so that abundle of bags (which in the present instance comprises a plurality of groups) will be of substantially uniform dimensions.

In the present apparatus, the group-forming section serves to collect in side-by-side relation the bags 28 being discharged in succession from the drum 29, and to divide or collect the bags into groups or hands which, in FIGURE 1, are denoted a, 3012, etc. The groups 30 are advanced in order into the collating section 26 (as depicted by the group 30d in FIGURE 1), and'successive groups are turned in opposite angular directions through arcuate distances of substantially 90, as indicated by the paths described by the curved arrows. After such collating of the successive groups, they are assem bled in the section 27 preparatory for bundling. The assembled groups shown at section 27 in FIGURE 1 could constitute a bundle or :a partial bundle, and the assemblage is denoted in its entirety with the numeral 31. As a typical example in terms of numbers, a group 30 might comprise fifty bags and a bundle could constitute ten such groups or a total of 500 bags.

Group-forming section In describing the group-forming or group-collecting section of the collating apparatus, reference will be made in particular to FIGURES 2 and 4 through 8. e

"As indicated hereinbefore, the section 25 is operative on the bags 28 being discharged in succession from the drum 29 to collect such bags in side-by-side relation and divide the same into groups. In accomplishing this result, each bag 28 is stripped from the drum 29 and the downward movement of the bag arrested. More especially, the drum 29 (see FIGURE 7) is provided with a plurality ofgrooves 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d spaced apart transversely along the circumferential surface thereof, and respectively seated within such grooves are stationary strippers 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d. Thus, as the drum 29 advances the bags downwardly, the stripper fingers 33 ride under the leading bottom end of each bag and displaces it laterally from the surface of the drum.

As each bag is urged laterally from the drum, the downward motion of the bag is terminated by abutment of the bottom end thereof with a pair of transversely spaced stops or bars 34a and 34b that are essentially fiat and are aligned with] each other, The bars 34 are located outwardly of the strippers 33a and 33d (see FIG- URE 7) and are fixed components suitably supported by the framework of the apparatus. Cooperating with the stops 34 in terminating downward .movement of each bag are stationary guides or tracks 35a and 35b forming reference will be part of :a group-feeding conveyor generally denoted --with the numeral 36. The tracks 35 are located interior ly of the strippers 33b and 330, and, as shown best in FIGURE 7, the tracks extend laterally and downwardly in substantially parallel relation with the stops 34 for a considerable distance, and then commence to curve away from the straight-line path of the stops and finally curve upwardly toward the collating section'26.

Theconveyor 36 also includes a pair ofendles s' conveyor chains 37a and 3712 respectively associated with the tracks 35a and 35b, and such tracks effectively define the path of movementof the upper reach or branch of the conveyor chains to enable the same to traverse the arcuate, generally concave path defined between the bag drum 29 andthe collating section 26. The tracks 35 may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured to a plurality of transversely oriented supports such as the support bars 38 and 39, which bars are most evident in FIGURES 4, 7 and 8. The bar 38 is seen to be secured at the opposite ends thereof to side plates 40a and 40b forming a part of the framework of the apparatus. I

The conveyor chains 37a and 37b are respectively entrained about sprockets 41a and 41b adjacent the bag drum 29, and also about sprockets 42a and 42b adjacent the collating station 26. Evidently, the sprockets 41 and 42 are respectively supported upon stub shafts journalled for rotation in components therefor rigidly'related to the frame structure of the apparatus. The chains 37 are also respectively entrained about drive sprockets 43a and 43b keyed to a shaft 44 so as to rotate therewith. The shaft 44 is journalled for rotation in support structure 45, and it is equipped with a drive sprocket 46 connected by an endless drive chain 47 to a drive sprocket 48 mounted upon a shaft 49 that constitutes one of the two main drive shafts of the apparatus. The other such drive shaft is denoted with the numeral 50, and rotates the shaft 49 through the gears 51 and 52 which are respectively carried by the shafts 50 and 49 and are meshingly engaged with each other, as is shown best in FIGURES 2 and 3.

Evidently, as the shaft 50 is rotated, it rotatably drives the shaft 49 through the agency of the meshed gears 51 and 52; and it may be noted that because of the reduction defined by the two gears 51 and 52, the rotational ratio of the shaft 50 to that of the shaft 49 is 1-to-2. Clearly, as the shaft 49 rotates, the shaft 44 is forced to rotate because of the driving interconnection of these two shafts defined by the chain 47 and sprockets 46 and 48, and rotation of the shaft 44 enforces movement on each of the conveyor chains 37. An idler sprocket 53 may be associated with the drive chain 47; and in a similar manner, idler sprockets 54a and 54b may be respectively associated with the conveyor chains 37a and 37b.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 3, the apparatus is driven from the bag machine and is therefore timed with the bag drum 29 and, accordingly, with the delivery of bags 28 thereby. In this respect, the bag drum 29 is equipped with a shaft 55 having a drive sprocket 56 secured thereto so as to rotate therewith. An endless chain 57 is entrained about the drive sprocket 56 and is also entrained about a sprocket 58 keyed to a shaft 59 journalled for rotation in the frame structure of the apparatus and equipped at its outer end with a spur gear 60. The gear 60 meshes with and drives a gear 61 that is 1 freely supported for rotation relative to and about the keyed to the shaft 50 so as to drive the same. The clutch 62 is an overload safety device, and whenever it is in proper engagement, the shaft 50 is rotated. Should the apparatus become jammed, the clutch 62 will disengage whereupon the driving connection between the gear 61 and shaft 50 will be terminated. The components generally denoted as 63 constitute an arrangement for breaking 5. the electric circuit to the main drive motor whenever the clutch 62 is disengaged. The clutch 62 and the mechanism 63 may both be of standard design and any suitable clutch arrangement can be employed, or the entire clutch feature can be omitted.

A sprocket 64 is mounted upon the shaft 50 and is provided as a power take-off means should it be desired to drive any other apparatus from the collating apparatus being considered herein. Also, a hand wheel 65 equipped with a gear 66 is included in the apparatus, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3; and the wheel and gear are movable from the outer disengaged position thereof shown in FIG- URE 3 into an inner position (displaced toward the left as viewed in FIGURE 3) to engage the gear 66 with the gear 52 and permit the apparatus to be manually advanced.

Each of the endless chains is equipped with a plurality of L-shaped lugs or flights at spaced apart intervals therealong, which lugs are pivotally related to the chains so as to be movable inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto. For purposes of identification, each of the lugs carried by the chain 37a is denoted with the numeral 67a, and those carried by the chain 3712 with the numeral 67b. As the chains 37 advance a lug 67 into adjacency with the guides or tracks 35 along the upper reach of the chains, each lug engages an outwardly extending cam surface or holder 68a or 6811, as the case may be, which constrains each lug engaged thereby against inward movement, whereupon one leg of the lug is extended above the plane defined by the upper surfaces of the aforementioned members 34 and 35. The lugs are effective to maintain the bag groups 30 in spaced apart relation and to advance the same along the conveyor 36 from the infeed end thereof adjacent the bag drum 29toward the discharge end adjacent the collating section 26.

Each lug 67 hangs loosely from the associated chain 37, as'shown best in FIGURE 6, as the lug is moved along the lower reach of the chain and as it traverses the arcuate path defined by the associated sprocket 41 adjacent the bag drum 29. It is resired to rapidly displace each lug from such loosely hanging condition thereof into its projected position along the upper reach of the chains to cause each lug to be quickly inserted into the space defined between adjacent bag groups 30, which space is created and maintained for only a limited interval by divider apparatus to be described subsequently. Such sharp transition of each lug into the extended position thereof is effected by trigger mechanism illustrated best in FIGURES 4, 6 and 7; and referring thereto, it may be noted that the trigger mechanism is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor 36. Accordingly, the mechanism has duplicate components respectively associated with the endless chains 37; and in the following description of such trigger mechanism, only the components associated with the chain 37a will be considered in detail, and those components associated with the chain 37b will be denoted in the drawings with the same numerals but with the suffix b rather than a being added thereto.

As seen in the figures noted, a trigger element 69a is supported for pivotal movement by a pin 70a carried by a bracket 71a secured to rigid components of the apparatus. The trigger element has an arcuate cam surface 72a, and is selectively pivotal between the retracted position shown in FIGURE 4 and the extended position illustrated in FIGURE 6. Movement thereof into the extended position causes the cam surface 72a of the trigger element to engage a lug 67a and cam the same upwardly and into the active group-engaging position thereof. Pivotal movement of the trigger element is enforced thereon by a link 73a pivotally secured adjacent one end thereof to the trigger element by a pin 74a. Adjacent its other end, the link 73a is connected by a pin 75a to a crank arm 76a supported intermediate its ends for angular movements about the axis of a shaft 77 which is journalled for rotation in a support 78 pivoted on a shaft 79 by support structure 80. The shaft 79 is journalled for rotation adjacent the opposite ends thereof in hangers 81a and 81b secured to the cross bar 38. Evidently, as the crank arms 76 are displaced in a counter-clockwise direction from the position thereof shown in FIGURE 4 into the position illustrated in FIGURE 6, the trigger elements 69 will be displaced angularly in a clockwise direction (compare FIGURES 4 and 6) so as to rapidly displace the respectively associated lugs 67 upwardly into the extended position thereof along the tracks 35.

Angular displacements are enforced on the crank arm 76a (and therefore on the shaft 77 and crank arm 76b) by an elongated lever arm or link 82 pivotally connected at one end with the arm 76a by a pin 83. The arm 82 adjacent its opposite end is pivotally connected to one end of a bell crank 84 that is pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof upon a shaft 85. Adjacent its other end, the bell crank 84 is equipped with a cam follower 86 that traverses a cam which is indicated somewhat diagrammatically in FIGURE 5 and denoted by the numeral 87. The cam 87 is mounted upon the aforementioned shaft 50 and is rotatably driven thereby.

The cam 87 has a sharply stepped section 88 that permits a sharp transistion of the cam follower 86 from the outer position thereof shown in FIGURE 5, which corresponds to the inoperative position of the trigger elements 69, as shown in FIGURE 4, to an inner position corresponding to the active position of the trigger elements 69 shown as in FIGURE 6. Thus, the transition period for the trigger elements from the inoperative position to the operative position thereof is quite rapid. The cam follower 86 is resiliently biased into engagement with the cam 87 by a helical tension spring (FIGURE 4) that is connected to the arm 76a adjacent the upper end thereof.

Also connected to the arm 76a at its upper end is a link 9011. The link is pivotally connected to an arm 91a that has bolted or otherwise fixedly secured thereto a divider or counter-finger 92a. Adjacent its lower end the arm 91a is clamped to a shaft 93 journalled for rotation in support structure 94 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to a bracket or support plate 95 formed integrally. with or otherwise rigidly related to the fastener stnucture Quite evidently, as the lever arm 76a is angularly displaced in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 77 and into the position shown in FIGURE 6, the link a will be pulled toward the left, as viewed in FIGURE 4, whereupon the counter-finger 9211 will be angularly displaced in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in FIGURE 4 into the position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 6. This function of the counter-finger is so related to the rate of delivery of bags by the drum 29 that the trigger fingers are operative to divide the bags into groups each of which has substantially the same number of bags.

As indicated hereinbefore, the shaft 79 is journalled for rotation in the hangers 81. and pivotal movements are imparted thereto by an arm 96 secured thereto at its upper end. The arm 96 adjacent its lower end is pivotally connected by a pin 97 to an elongated lever arm 98 that is pivotally connected to one end of a bell crank 99 (FIG- URE 5) pivotally supported intermediate its ends on the aforementioned shaft 85. The other end of the bell crank is equipped with a cam follower 108 that rides on a cam 101 which is indicated diagrammatically in FIGURE 5. The cam follower 100 is resiliently bias-ed into engagement with the cam 101 by a helical tension s ring 102 connected to the upper end of the arm 96 (FIGURE 4).

Quite evidently, the cam 101 will be configurated so that the bell crank 99 is angularly reciprocated about the axis of the shaft 85 and, accordingly, the elongated arm 98 will be reciprocably displaced along the longitudinal axis thereof. As a consequence, the arm 96 will move the shaft 79 through pivotal displacements, whereupon the fastener structure 80 and support thereof will be angularly displaced between the full-line and brokenline positions shown in FIGURE 6. Accordingly, the shafts 93 will be displaced between upper and lower positions through an arcuate distance having as its center the axis of the shaft 79, as indicated by the arrow-equipped movement lines in FIGURE 6. Thus, the counter-finger 92a will be moved between the elevated position thereof shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, in which it projects upwardly above the tracks 35 and stops 34, and a retracted position (corresponding to the broken-line illustration of the support plate 95 in FIGURE 6), in which the counter-finger is retracted to a location below the upper surface of the members 34 and 35.

In a-cycle of operation, and considering the relative position of the elements as shown in FIGURE 4 to be the starting condition, it is noted that the shaft 79 has been pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction to elevate the two counter-fingers into the uppermost position there of in which they have been inserted behind a bag just being stripped from the drum 29 by the stripper fingers 33. Also, the shaft 77 has been pivoted in a clockwise direction whereupon the counter-fingers 92 are in their extreme right-hand position, as viewed in FIGURE 4, or starting position adjacent the drum 29, and, correspondingly, in which the trigger elements 69 are retracted. As the cam 87 continues to rotate, it next causes the shaft 77 to be pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction whereupon the trigger elements 69 engage the respectively associated lugs 67, which are just traversing the arcs defined by the sprockets 91, and project such lugs quite rapidly into the space between two successive bags being discharged by the drum 29, which space is defined by the counter-fingers 92. Such pivotal movement of the shaft 77 also displaces the counter-fingers 92 toward the left and into the positions thereof shown in FIGURE 6 which displacement of the counter-fingers together with movement of the lugs 67 in the same direction advances a group 30 of bags away from the drum (the immediately prior set of lugs defines the forward side of such bag group).

At about the time that the counter-fingers 92 approach the extremity of their displacement along the conveyor 36 to advance a group 30 of bags, the cam 101 commences to pivot the shaft 79 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIGURES 4 and 6) to pull the counter-fingers 92 downwardly below the upper surface of the members 34 and 35. After the counter-fingers have been moved below the upper surface of the conveyor 36, the cam 87 causes the shaft 77 to be pivoted in a clockwise direction to return the counter-fingers 92 to their initial position adjacent the drum 29 preparatory to their being displaced upwardly again and into the position shown in FIGURE 4 by operation of the cam 101 to pivot the shaft 79 in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, a cycle of operation has been completed, and such cycle is repeated at a rate dependent upon the speed of delivery of the bag drum 29. Since the collating apparatus is driven from the drum 29, any change in the operating speed thereof automatically effects a corresponding change in the operating speed of the collating apparatus.

It may be noted that the number of bags in each group thereof can be altered simply by changing the diameter of the sprocket 56 (FIGURE 3), and the device may be equipped with a variable-diameter sprocket structure so that any such change can be effected quickly and easily. As indicated hereinbefore, a typical count may be fifty bags per group or hand 30.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, the conveyor 36 is arcuate and describes a generally concave path that dips downwardly between the two ends of the conveyor respectively located adjacent the bag drum 29 and the collating section 26. This feature is of significance particularly where the articles being collated are elongated, as in the case of paper grocery bags, because it tends to concentrate the upper ends of such articles inwardly to- 8 ward the center of the arcuate path as shown in FIG- URE 2.

The groups 30 may be supported along the upwardly extending edges thereof by any suitable guide structure such as the guide bars 103a and 104a that are respectively secured to uprights 105a and 106a. The upright 105a at its lower end is welded or otherwise secured to a base or main frame structure generally denoted 107, and the upright 106a is secured to a strut 108 and to a strap composition 109. It may be noted that the stripper fingers 33 (FIGURES 2 and 7) are carried by supports 110a and 11% which at their lower ends are respectively clamped to .a shaft carried at its end by brackets 112a- 112b that are respectively secured to the uprights 106a 106b. Evidently, the precise location of the stripper fingers may be selectively determined by angularly adjusting the supports therefor with respect to the shaft 111. Also, the vertical orientation of the infeed end of the conveyor 36 can be altered by lengthening or shortening the strut 108 (which can be of the usual turn-buckle type) to correlate the infeed end of the conveyor to any particular bag drum 29.

Group-collating section For convenience of description, the group-collating section will be divided into a group transfer unit and a group turning or collating unit; and in explaining the group transfer unit which will be considered first, particular reference will be made to FIGURES 2, 3, 5 and 9.

As shown best in FIGURE 5, the terminal or discharge end of the conveyor 36 is defined essentially by those end portions of the track members 35 that are located adjacent the collating section 26. At such end of the conveyor, is an L-shaped constraining finger. Considering the constraining finger 113, it is supported for pivotal movement by a pin 114 carried by a support block 115 secured to a transverse bar 117 that is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the strap composition 109 along the underside thereof. Afiixed to the strap composition 109 adjacent its upper end is a bar 117 upon which the track members 35 seat. The bar 117 has secured thereto a pair of supports 118a and 118b that respectively provide journal supports for the shafts of the aforementioned sprockets 42a and 42b.

It may be noted that the shafts of the sprockets 41a and 41b adjacent the opposite end of the conveyor are similarly supported; and referring to FIGURE 7, the two supports are denoted 118a. and 11817 and the transverse bar is designated 39. Such bar 39' is seen to seat the tracks 35 thereon and, in turn, be secured to the strap composition 109.

The constraining finger 113 is movable between an extended position, shown by full lines in FIGURE 5, in which it projects above the track members 35 and a retracted position, shown by broken lines in such figure, in which it is essentially below the upper surface of the track members. The finger is resiliently biased into the extended position thereof by a helical tension spring 119, and the finger is displaced downwardly against the biasing force of such spring by each group 30 of bags as it is transferred from the conveyor 36 to the turning or collating unit. The function of the restraining finger is to compress slightly the bottom ends of the bags of each leading group as it is advanced to the pick-up station at the end of the conveyor 36 to prevent the bags, or at least some of them, from moving forwardly beyond the terminal ends of the track members 35.

The transfer unit includes a pair of generally L-shaped transfer platforms 120a and 1201) (again considering only the platform 120a since the platform 12Gb and its associated components are duplicates) that are adapted to pick up each group 30 of bags as such group reaches the terminal end of the conveyor 36 and transfer the group into the turning station to be gripped and rotated by the turning unit. The complete path of movement described 9 by each transfer platform 120 is shown best in FIGURE 9, and includes lower starting position shown by full lines in which the platform is located below the conveyor 36, an elevated positiondirectly above such starting position shown by broken lines and for identification denoted by the primed form of the parts number, and a forwardly displaced position also shown by broken lines and denoted with the double primed form of the parts number.

The transfer platform 120ais rigidly secured to a bracket 121a which is fixedly secured to a tubular collar 122a slidably mounted upon an elongated rod 123a. The tubular collar 122a is reeiprocated axially along the rod 123a by a linkage comprising an arm 124a pivotally secured at one end thereof to the collar 122a, and pivotally secured at its other end to a lever 125a. The lever 125a is enlarged adjacent the opposite end thereof and is equipped with a collar or sleeve rotatably supported by a shaft 126 for pivotal movement with respect to the axis thereof (FIGURE 9). The correspondingly enlarged end of the lever 1251; is generally T-shaped (FIGURE and has a depending leg 127 equipped at its lower end with a cam follower 128 that rides upon a cam 129.

The cam is configurated so as to dispace the lever 125b in angular directions with respect to the axis of the shaft 126 between the retracted position shown by full lines in FIGURE 9 and the extended transfer position illustrated by full lines in FIGURE 5. The cam 129 may be a channel-type cam having a closed track that confines the cam follower 128 therein, whereupon the need for biasing means to urge the cam follower into engagement with the cam surface is obviated. The lever 12511 is secured to the aforementioned collar or sleeve and, therefore, dis places concurrently therewith the lever 125a which, as stated, is equipped with such collar.

The transfer platform 1200 is also movable between the pick-up and delivery positions respectively denoted in FIGURE 5 (and also denoted in FIGURE 9) by the locations 120a and 120a, and movementlbetween such positions is enforced thereon through displacements of the rod 123a. More particularly, the rod at its lower end is rigidly related to a crank arm 130a that is equipped with a tubular collar or sleeve rotatably supported by a shaft 131 for pivotal movement with respect thereto. The crank arm 130a is generally T-shaped and has a leg 132 equipped with a cam follower 133 that engages a cam 134 which may be of a channel-type construction as described hereinbefore. The cam is rotated by the shaft 50, and is configurated so that it angularly reciprocates the crank arm 130a about the shaft 131 to repetitively displace the transfer platform 120a from the pick-up posi-. tion to the discharge position and then return it to the initial position. The crank arm 13011 is secured to such collar or sleeve and therefore moves concurrently with the arm 130a.

Also supported for pivotal movement about the shaft 131 is a bell crank structure in the form of a large arm 135 and a shorter arm 136 extending therefrom at an angle of somewhat more than 90. The arm 136 at its inner end carries a cam follower 137 that rides on the edge of a cam 138. The cam 138 is rotated by the shaft 50, and is configurated so as to displace the arm 135 between the aforementioned pick-up position, in which it cooperates with the transfer platforms 120 to grip a group of bags located thereat, and a delivery position at the turning unit. These two positions of the arm 135 are respectively indicated in FIGURES 9 and 5.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 9, the arm 135 at its upper end is provided with a transversely extending bar 139, and secured to the bar and extending downwardly therefrom are a pair of clamping arms 140 and 141. The clamp arms 140 and 141 may be bent so that significant lengths thereof are substantially parallel to the upwardly extending portions of the L-shaped transfer platforms 120 as such platforms are moved from the pick-up position to the delivery position. The purpose of such condition of parallelism is to apply to each group 30 of bags over a substantial extent thereof a clamping force developed between the platforms 120, while the group is being supported thereon, and the arms 140 and 141 which, at this time, cooperate with the transfer platforms to'hold the group of bags in a somewhat compressed condition-as the group is transferred from the pick-up station adjacentthe discharge end of the conveyor 36 to the release or delivery position at the turning unit.

In a cycle of operation of the group transfer unit, the components may be taken to have initially'the positions shown in full lines in FIGURE 9. At this time, then, the transfer platforms are retracted below the upper surface of the conveyor 36 and the clamping arms 140' and 141 are disposed at the pick-up station and will be in substantial abutment with the leading bag in a group thereof at such station. Accordingly, the clamping arms 140 and 141 are constraining the group against forward displacement along the conveyor 36 even though a dis placement force is being imparted to such group by the lugs 67 in engagement therewith, which. lugs are being advanced by the moving conveyor chains 37. Consequently, the group of bags will commence to be com-' pressed somewhat. At this time, the constraining fingers 113 are projecting upwardly above the conveyor 36 and tend to cooperate with the clamping arms 140 and 141 in constraining the group of bags against movement.

The cam 129 at about this time commences -to dsiplace the leg 127 to reciprocate the tubular collars 122 upwardly along their associated rods 123 to displace the transfer platforms 120 into the pick-up position thereof indicated at 120w. Such upward movement of the transfer platforms disposes the upwardly extending legs thereof into the space between successive groups 30 of bags, which space is defined by a pair of lugs 67. The base of each transfer platform is brought into engagement with the lower edge of the group of bags and serves to supportsuch group during the actual transfer thereof to the turning unit.

After the platforms 120 are in the elevated pick-up position thereof, the cam 134 commences to displace the crank arms in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURES 5 and 9, about the shaft 131, which displacement has the effect of initiating movement of the transfer platforms 120 toward the delivery positionthereof denoted in FIGURE 9 as 120a". Substantially concurrently with the initiation of such displacement of the transfer platforms 120 toward the delivery position, but perhaps slightly thereafter to permit some compressional clamping of the group of bags supported on the platforms, the cam 138 commences to displace the arm 136 (in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 9) with respect to the shaft 131 to displace the arm and clamping arms and 141 carried thereby toward the delivery position. Evidently, after concurrent movement of the transfer platforms 120 and clamping arms 140 and 141 begins, these components will be advanced simultaneously at essentially the same angular velocities to transfer a group of bags engaged thereby into the delivery position in a slightly compressed condition.

After such group of bags has been displaced into the delivery position and has been gripped by the turning units, as will be described hereinafter, the cam 129 retracts the transfer platforms 120 into a lowered position to enable them to be returned to a location below the conveyor 36, as shown by full lines in FIGURE 9. Such return movement of the retracted transfer platforms is enforced thereon by the cam 134 which causes the crank arms 130 to be angularly displaced in a clockwise direction with respect to the shaft 131. After the group of bags at the delivery station has been rotated or turned downwardly (which downward movement. thereof withdraws the group from juxtaposition with the clamping arms 140 and 141), the cam 138 causes the arm 135 I l to be angularly displaced in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURES and 9, about the shaft 131 to return the clamping arms to the pick-up position thereof shown by full lines in FIGURE 9.

Thus, a cycle of operation has been completed, and such cycle will be repeated for each group 30 of bags advanced into the pick-up station adjacent the terminal end of the conveyor 36. It may be noted, as shown in FIGURE 5, that displacement of the bag group from the pick-up station toward the discharge station will cause such group to ride over the constraining finger 113 and depress it downdardly into the position thereof shown by .broken lines in FIGURE 5. As soon as the group of bags passes over the finger 113, it will be snapped back into the extended, full-line position thereof shown in FIGURE 5 because of the biasin force imparted thereto by the spring 119.

With respect to the group turning or collating unit which will now be described, particular reference will be made to FIGURES 2, 3, 5 and 9 through 11.

The turning or collating unit is essentially symmetrical about the longitudinal center line of the apparatus, and comprises two subunits or subassemblies one of which rotates alternate groups of bags in one angular direction and the other of which rotates the respectively interposed groups of bags in the opposite angular direction. Accordingly, the subunits differ one from the other in their directions of rotation, but apart therefrom no esential difference exists between the two. Therefore, to simplify the detailed description, the explanation will be directed for the most part to but one of the subunits, and because the drawings best illustrating a subunit show the one located on the left-hand side of the apparatus, as viewed in FIGURE 3, the suffix b will be added to each of the numerical designations applied to the parts thereof to make the use of sufiixes consistent throughout. Accordingly, the respectively corresponding components of the other subunit will be denoted with the same numerical designations, except that the sufiix a will be used.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 10, one such subunit includes a pair of turning plates 142b and 14% movable concurrently between the aforementioned delivery or group-gripping station (as shown by full lines in FIGURE 10) and a release or discharge station shown by broken lines in this figure. Quite evidently, the turning plates must also move relative to each other between open and closed positions at both the gripping station and release station in order to grip and control a group 30 of bags transferred into the gripping station by the transfer platforms 120 and to release such group after it has been turned or collated.

In this latter respect, the plate 1421) is rotatable but is not otherwise displaceable, and it is supported upon a stub shaft 144b journalled for rotation in bearing structure supported by a frame plate 145b. More particularly, the plate 14217 has a mounting block 14'6b welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto which is rotatably carried by the stub shaft 14412, as shown in FIGURE 10. Also carried by the shaft 144b is a spur gear 147b. The gear and mounting block are separated by a spacer but are rigidly secured together by a plurality of cap screws. Accordingly, the plate 142b is connected with with the gear 147b and must rotate therewith, and the entire group of components 142b, 146b and 147b are rotatable with respect to the shaft.

Meshingly engaged with the spur gear 147b is a sector gear 1481) splined or otherwise secured to a drive shaft 14% so as to rotate therewith. The shaft 14% is supported for rotation adjacent the opposite ends thereof in the frame plate 145b and in a support bracket 15%. The plate 1451) and bracket 1511b are respectively secured to uprights 151b and 15211 which comprise a part of the main frame structure of the apparatus. The shaft 14911 has a sector gear 1531) clamped thereto, and the sector gear meshes with a spur gear 154b secured to a bearing sleeve 15512, as by means of set screws, and the bearing sleeve is rotatably supported by a tubular collar 15Gb welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the support bracket 15011.

The tubular bearing 155b has a splined passag therethrough that slidably receives therein a correspondingly splined shaft 157b reciprocable along the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the tubular hearing but necessarily rotatable therewith. At its inner end, the shaft 15711 is fixedly secured to a mounting block 15% welded or otherwise rigidly related to the plate 14311 and carrying the same. The shaft 15712 and mounting block 15812 may be fixedly interconnected by set screws, a press fit, or otherwise, to rigidly interconnect the same. Adjacent its outer end, the shaft 15711 is providde with a radially disposed, circumferential channel or recess 15% that receives therein a drive roller 1601) supported at one end of a somewhat T-shaped arm 161b.

Adjacent its opposite end, the arm 161b is supported for pivotal movement about a pin 1621) carried by a fixed strap 163b rigidly related to the frame upright 15212. The leg 16412 of the arm is pivotally connected to one end of an elongated push rod 1651) that at its other end is pivotally connected to a crank arm 166b equipped with a tubular collar or sleeve supported for pivotal displacements relative to the longitudinal axis of the aforementioned shaft 85. The crank arm 166b is equipped with an upwardly extending bracket or carrier 167b that provides a mounting for an adjustable abutment 168b in the form of a screw aligned with and adapted to be engaged by a cam follower arm 16% supported for angular displacements with respect to the shaft 85 independently of the arm 16612. The cam follower arm 16% at the end thereof is provided with a cam follower 17012 that ridingly engages a cam indicated diagrammatically in FIGURE 10 and denoted with the numeral 171b. The cam 1711) is mounted upon the aforementioned shaft 49 and is rotatably driven thereby.

The cam follower 17017 is resiliently biased into engagement with the cam 1711; by a helical tension spring 17211 which is connected at one end to a fastener link 1731; carried by the cam follower arm 16%. At its other end, the spring is fastened to a stationary connector. The abutment element 16817 is resiliently biased into engagement with the cam follower arm 16% by a helical tension spring which, at one end thereof, is connected to the leg 164b of the T-shaped arm 16112, and at its other end is connected to a fixed fastener 175b secured to the frame structure of the apparatus.

The resilient interconnection thus defined between the cam follower arm and the abutment permits relative movement therebetween which enables the turning plates 1421) and 14312 to accommodate bag groups 30 of somewhat ditferent thicknesses (i.e., a slightly different bag count) while resiliently gripping any such bag group 30. It will be evident that the spring 1741) biases the T- shaped arm 16111 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 10, about the pin 162b thereby urging the splined shaft 15712 inwardly or toward the left, so that the turning arm 14312 is resiliently urged toward the closed or group-gripping position thereof.

As the cam 1711) is rotated, the cam follower arm 16911 is displaced inwardly and outwardly. As it is displaced inwardly toward the innermost position thereof, the tension spring 1741; urges the splined shaft 157b inwardly so that the abutment 168b tends to remain in engagement with the follower arm 169k. However, as soon as the turning plate 14312 engages a bag group 30, which engagement ultimately terminates such displacement of the arm, the abutment 168b is constrained against further movement and the follower arm 1691) may move inwardly and away from the abutment. As the cam 17112 commences to return the arm 16% to the outer position thereof shown in FIGURE 10, the abutment 16% is

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